The objective was to review
research that examined the effects of polygyny (a specific form of polygamy)
on children and adolescents. A systematic literature search and review was conducted
of research published 1994–2014 that focused on psychological variables,
primary data collection, and compared data on children and adolescents
from polygynous families with monogamous families. Critical analysis included
the relevance of methods to the culture, including the psychometric properties reported. A total of 13 papers satisfied the inclusion criteria.
The review found more mental health problems, social problems and lower
academic achievement for children and adolescents from polygynous than
monogamous families. Similarities between children and adolescents from
polygynous and monogamous families included self-esteem, anxiety and
depression scores.

Although polygynous family structures appear to have detrimental
effects on children and adolescents, the mediating effects of parental
education, economy and family functioning need to be investigated.

المؤتمرات العلمية:

المؤتمر (1):

عنوان المؤتمر:

The European Conference on Psychology and the
Behavioral Sciences

تاريخ الإنعقاد:

06/07/2015

مكان الإنعقاد:

Brighton, UK

طبيعة المشاركة:

Poster presentation

عنوان المشاركة:

Psychological
Well-Being and Bullying/Victimisation among Adolescents from Polygamous and
Monogamous Families in Saudi Arabia

ملخص المشاركة:

Family structure is an important
context for children’s upbringing. Polygamy is a type of marriage that
affects the structure of the family. This research investigated the impact of
polygamy (one man married to more than one wife) on adolescents in Saudi
Arabia. The research aims were to investigate differences between adolescents
from polygamous and monogamous families in the following variables:
psychological wellbeing (self-esteem, satisfaction with life, depression) and
bullying/ victimization.

Participants were a total of 98
students from schools in Riyadh City; 49 students from polygamous families
and 49 students from monogamous families (71 boys, 27 girls; mean age = 15.36
years). Questionnaires and tests to measure demographic variables, self-esteem,
satisfaction with life, depression, bullying, and victimization were
administered in schools. All tests have been previously validated for use in
Saudi Arabia.

The results found statistically
significant differences between participants from polygamous and monogamous
families in all dependent variables. Adolescents from monogamous families
reported higher self-esteem and satisfaction with life than adolescents from
polygamous families. Also, adolescents from polygamous families had higher
depression, bullying and victimization scores than adolescents from
monogamous families.

Conclusions were that polygamy had negative effects on the psychological
well-being (self-esteem, satisfaction with life, depression) and behaviour
(bullying) of Saudiadolescents.